Five cost efficient ways to ensure your home stays warm

WHILE our winters are mild comparatively, the cooler months can catch us unprepared if we don't take some action to warm our houses. Homes with inadequate insulation, exposed windows, cold floors and open-plan layouts can really make for a miserable winter. Here are some basic tips to ensure your home is cosy without spiking your energy bills.

CREATE COSY CORNERS: Little things such as moving sofas and chairs closer make a real difference, as does shutting off rooms that you are not using and consolidating your activities at home into two or three rooms that you need to heat.

WARMING UP YOUR FLOORS: Bare floorboards and tiles are great in the summer months, but miserable in winter. If you have expanses of bare floors then consider adding a few extra rugs in the cooler months, especially in the living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms.

WORKING WITH YOUR WINDOWS: Up to a quarter of heat is lost through your windows, so if you have curtains, draw them closed at night to keep the warmth in.

THE BATHROOM: Usually the coldest room in the house, bathrooms can become frigid and unwelcoming. Consider adding a five-fin spot heater.

THROW SOME THROWS AROUND: The whole Home of Thrones look is going nowhere, so throw some throws on sofas, living room chairs and on your beds.

WELCOMING BEDS: I've worked out over the years that it's either flannel sheets or electric blankets, you really don't need both.